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BRP Miguel Malvar capable of air defense via vertical launch system

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
May 27, 2025, 1:18 pm

MANILA -- The newly-commissioned guided missile frigate, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), is the first Philippine Navy (PN) warship to be equipped with a "vertical launch system" (VLS) optimized for neutralizing air threats.

"Number one, it is our first asset (that has a) VLS onboard. Number two, why is it special? The warships that we have, that have anti-air warfare capability, you still have to maneuver to be able to fire. With BRP Miguel Malvar, you don't have to maneuver anymore, it is omni-directional, you can fire in whatever position you are in," PN spokesperson Capt. John Percie Alcos said in a press briefing Tuesday, when asked what makes the BRP Miguel Malvar unique and special among other Navy ships.

VLS is an advanced system for storing and firing missiles aboard naval vessels.

Alcos also said the VLS system mounted in the BRP Miguel Malvar is optimized for surface-to-air engagements.

This means that the frigate is very capable of handling any air threats.

To date, the BRP Miguel Malvar is the most advanced and heavily armed ship in PN service. The ship weighs 3,200 gross tons, measures 118.4 meters, and has a beam of 14.9 meters.

BRP Miguel Malvar has a range of 4,500 nautical miles and a cruising speed of 15 knots. Its maximum speed is placed at 25 knots.

Its sister ship, the BRP Diego Silang (FFG-007), is expected to delivered by June or July.

It is equipped with sensors, surveillance systems and weapons platforms that allow it for multi-combat operations, meaning it can track and engage surface, sub-surface, and air threats.

BRP Miguel Malvar is equipped with an Oto Melara main gun, a 35mm Aselsan close-in weapons systems, four .50 caliber heavy machine guns, eight C-Star surface-to-surface missile tubes, two triple Blue Shark torpedo tubes for anti-submarine warfare and 16 VLS tubes for air defense.

Before the arrival of the BRP Miguel Malvar, the most modern ships in the PN inventory were the two Jose Rizal-class frigates --the BRP Jose Rizal and the BRP Antonio Luna. (PNA)